Blocked Prayers 被拦阻的祷告

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Dexu Xia

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Jul 20, 2021, 11:32:16 PM7/20/21

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When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

For fourteen years, the Mars rover Opportunity faithfully communicated with the people at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After it landed in 2004, it traversed twenty-eight miles of the Martian surface, took thousands of images, and analyzed many materials. But in 2018, communication between Opportunity and scientists ended when a major dust storm coated its solar panels, causing the rover to lose power.

Is it possible that we can allow “dust” to block our communication with Someone outside of our world? When it comes to prayer—communicating with God—there are certain things that can get in the way.

Scripture says that sin can block our relationship with God. “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). Jesus instructs, “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25). Our communication with God can also be hindered by doubt and relationship problems (James 1:5–7; 1 Peter 3:7).

Opportunity’s blockage of communication seems to be permanent. But our prayers don’t have to be blocked. By the work of the Holy Spirit, God lovingly draws us to restored communication with Him. As we confess our sins and turn to Him, by God’s grace we experience the greatest communication the universe has ever known: one-to-one prayer between us and our holy God.

How can confessing your sins to God improve your communication with Him? What can you do to enrich your prayer life?

Father, guide me to discover what's limiting my communication with You. Thank You for helping me connect with You!

你们站着祷告的时候，若想起有人得罪你们，就当饶恕他，好叫你们在天上的父也饶恕你们的过犯。—马可福音11章25节

探测火星的漫游车机遇号自2004年登陆火星后，便一直与美国太空总署喷气推进实验室的科学家保持联系。十四年来，它在火星表面移动了45公里，拍摄数千张照片，并分析许多物质。但2018年，一场强烈的沙尘暴使机遇号的太阳能板铺满尘土，以致失去动力，也中断了它与科学家之间的交流。

我们是否也会让“尘土”阻隔我们与上帝之间的交流呢？当我们以祷告与上帝沟通时，也可能因某些事情而受到阻隔。

圣经告诉我们，罪会阻隔我们与上帝之间的关系。诗篇66篇18节说：“我若心里注重罪孽，主必不听。”耶稣说：“你们站着祷告的时候，若想起有人得罪你们，就当饶恕他，好叫你们在天上的父也饶恕你们的过犯”（马可福音11章25节）。我们与上帝的交流，会因怀疑或人际问题而受到阻碍（雅各书1章5-7节；彼得前书3章7节）。

机遇号与人的交流障碍似乎是永久的，但我们的祈祷却可以不受阻隔。藉着圣灵的工作，上帝慈爱地引领我们与祂恢复交流。当我们承认自己的罪并归向上帝时，便可靠着祂的恩典经历到宇宙中最伟大的交流：我们与圣洁的上帝一对一谈话。

向上帝认罪如何增进你与祂的交流？
你可以做些什么以丰富你的祷告生活呢？

天父，请引导我细心察觉会妨碍我与祢交流的事物。
感谢祢帮助我与祢保持联系！